Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-29
THE READING STRIKE.
THE RAILROAD EMPLOYEES RETURNING TO
THEIR WORK.
The Order to Quit Work Unhssdsd-Troubls Among
the Bnginsers-The Road Operated Almost
Without Obstruction Officials
Confident Of Success.

READING, PA, December 28.-Coal and
freight traffic by this morning was firmly
re-established on the main line of the
Reading railroad. Up to noon to-day
twenty-five empty coal trains passed
through Reading from Port Richmond and
thirty loaded trains from the coal regions.
Some Of the latter have been standing on
the sidiugs north Of Reading for the past
few days, and are DOW being moved. The
notice of Chairman Lee of the Executive
Committee to assemblies of the X. Of L.,
revoking the order TO 60 to work and once
more calling out the Philadelphia and
Reading men has not yet reached Read
ing. 1t will not generally be needed
by the employees, who have already
refused to 90 out, and by their
action on Monday broke the backbone
of the strike. They are all at work TO day.
Tie call for the Reading railroad COnven-
tion to meet here tomorrow for aggressive
measures against the company has not
created much excitement in this city, and
the indications are that it will be very
slimly attended, as the orders Of the COM
pany are strict to the effect that the men
must remain on duty and attend no such
convention during working hours.
The miners will be most largely repre-
sented. The fact that about thirty men,
berS of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers obtained engines held by Knights
has made the feeling between these parties
very bitter. Probably 300 new hands have
been employed at the office in this
city in place of the old ones, and sent
to points where they were needed. Com
munication has been had with all points
on two Thousand miles of railroad, and no
disaster or damage is reported.
General Manager Mcleod, OF the Phlia'
delpha and Reading Railroad Company,
said this morning that the operation OF the
road is almost without obstruction. From
other sources in the Company's general Of
flee it was learned that twenty-five north
bound and twenty.three sOuth-bOund coal
trains were moved yesterday, as well as
all freight that had accumulated in this
city. An official said that the men were
not generally Obeying the order of the
Knights to quit work again, because the
company had publicly guaranteed them
protection, and that there were sufficient
men at work this morning TO carry on the
operations of the road properly.
A leading official of the company de-
clared that he had not heard anything in
reference to the reported order for re-
newal Of the strike. He doubted the issu-
ance of such an order, and said: ut can
have no serious effect, as at least one half
the men now at work are new men, and
would not be governed by any action OF a
X. of l.. committee. If such thing
should happen, we would only be slightly
crippled in our service, and that ouly for a
short time, as / am assured that 1t would
be matter of only few days until a full
force could I've secured
The strikers who resumed work yester-
day reported for duty as usual at Port
RiChmOud this morning. The freight
along the wharves was handled as usual,
and in the round house all was hustle and
activity. There were gatherings OF Knights
at one or two of the headquarters, at which
there was much gruwlirg at the discharge
of their leaders, and numerous declarations
of willingness to resume the strike; hut no
formal meetings were held, and no action
toward calling the hands out was taken.
About five hundred men are guarding
the compamy's yards aud wharves. The
loyal employees Of the company are to be
supplied with clubs for self defense.
At notwithstanding the fact
that Knights of Labor leaders declare that
there is a general strike, there is no per-
ceptible interruption of operations. The
usual number of coal trains left Palo Alto
this morning, mostly manned 10y non
union crews, and brotherhood engineers.
The Knights Of Labor leaders appear dis
cOmfitted and disheartened at the situa-
tiOn and outlook